Study designs of evaluations included in the review
All non-cross-sectional studies using human participants which followed the criteria of prospective data acquisition and repeated bone density measurement using dual energy quantitative computer tomography (DQCT), dual photon absorptiometry (DPA) or dual energy X-ray absorptiometry (DXA) were included, provided a clear description of the treatment regimen was given and patients met the American College of Rheumatology classification criteria for RA.
Specific interventions included in the review
Corticosteroid therapy.
Participants included in the review
Three cohort types were included in the review. The first comprised a total of 66 patients with rheumatoid arthritis(RA) all of whom were taking corticosteroid therapy. The majority of these participants were post-menopausal women. Patients with both early and advanced RA were included. All patients were taking low-dose corticosteroids.
The second cohort type comprised of RA patients not taking corticosteroid therapy. This patient group included a total of 371 men and women with either early or late-onset RA.
The third cohort type included a total of 216 men and women not diagnosed with RA who were taking corticosteroid therapy for disorders including asthma, autoimmune disease and heart transplantation.
Outcomes assessed in the review
Changes in lumbar bone mass over time were assessed.
How were decisions on the relevance of primary studies made?
The authors do not state how the papers were selected for the review, or how many of the authors performed the selection.